How to be a Dentist in the United States | The Challenge of doing DDS in the United States | Dentistry in U.S.

DDS (Doctor in Dental Surgery) in the United States of America

Every year numbers of highly qualified spouses fly into the United States with their tech husbands with bags of dreams, degrees, and expectations. While it seems, getting a job and settling down in a foreign country is easy, the reality is far away, and if you hold a medical or dental degree, then things are even worse. There are specific rules and regulations you need to follow to get a license to practice in the States, for example, USMLE (the United States Medical Licensing Examination) which is held through four examinations, including the clinical part. These exams are expensive and need thorough preparation. But here I want to discuss practicing dentistry in The United States after holding a dental degree from your Home country. Before I go into the details, the standard questions on the internet are.

1. Is it possible to practice dentistry in the United States for a foreign dentist?

A. The answer is, Yes, a foreign dentist can practice dentistry in the States after going through, two years of  DDS or DMD and the licensure exam. 

2. Can an H4 visa holder do DDS in the United States of  America?

 A. The answer may vary from person to person. And has pros and cons.

YES

Yes, if you want to continue your career here in the United States.

Yes, if you are willing to change your visa status from H4 to F1.

Yes, if you are ready to move to a different state (if required)

Yes, if you have someone native (U.S. citizen) to be a guarantor (cosigner) for your study loan.

Yes, if you are extraordinarily punctual and dedicated to your studies.

Yes, if you are willing to make expenses on your studies.

NO

No, if you are on a short term immigration period.

No, if you don't want to change your visa status from H4 to F1.

No, if you have a study loan, back in your home country.

No, if you are a family person.

No, if you think to earn a DDS and go back to your home country to practice(Makes no sense).

1.  DDS (Doctor in Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) is equivalent to BDS (Bachelors in Dental Surgery) India.

2. To be a Dentist (as a Foreign dentist) in the United States, you need to appear three main examinations,

- NBDE Part 1 (National Board of Dental Examinations)

- NBDE Part 2 (National Board of Dental Examinations)

- TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language)

The NBDE Part 1 consists of basics including, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pathology, Microbiology, Dental Anatomy, and Occlusion. The second part includes mostly of clinical case studies.

And TOEFL is a must for every foreign student who wants to continue or pursue higher studies in the United States of America. 

3. Once you decide to continue your studies in the United States, you need to prepare for the exam, schedule, appear, hold your test results. It is important to know that after you are done with your exams and good result, one has to continue the two years of DDS, which can be stressful to many.

- The course is expensive, for which you need to apply for a loan, which is a bit complicated process.

- If you are an H4 (Dependent) Visa holder, then you need to change it to F1 (student) Visa. As it is difficult to switch from an H4 to H1 (working) visa.

- If you don't change your visa status, and in case your husband's visa expires, you can't stay in the States to continue your studies with H4 (dependent) visa. 

- To grant a massive amount of loan, you need a guarantor who should be a U.S. citizen to be the cosigner. A person who can give his credit details to your bank.

- The visa procedures can be a long process, you need to have some patience.

- According to your score and college fee get yourself ready to move to a different place if needed. 

- There is no doubt, you will earn a significant amount. But initially, you may repay your loan amount, which can be stressful.

- Here in the United States, you can't go wrong with a single thing while treating your patient. If anything goes wrong, consequences are terrible, can affect the cancelation of your licensure to sue you and your clinic.

- And if you want to come back to your home country in a couple of years or want to stay with your family, there is no use of doing DDS in the States, as it is same as BDS of India, and there is no value of doing the same course two times. 

3. And if not a dental degree, then what else you can do here in the United States to be in touch with your field of education?   

- If you want to stay in touch with your studies (Dentistry), you can take a Dental Assitance course or Dental front officer. (Note - If you don't have an H4 EAD, you can't do a job with these courses)  

- Public Health, perhaps this is the choice for many foreign dentists who plan to further study in the United States with minimal stress.

- MBA can be an option, again is a lengthy procedure, exams, expensive, loan (affordable in many cases), etc.

- Freelancing, this can be an option for them who have an H4 EAD and have a few hours to spend on writing, designing, data entry, etc.

- Volunteer, for them who need engagement. It is easy to do volunteer in schools, hospitals, and clinics, etc. here in the United States, as they welcome the volunteers to help them in different fields.

- YouTube - It is interesting to know that many dependants find it as a way to keep themselves busy and earn a few bucks. May not need a work authorization.

4. Making a decision is the most important thing, perhaps a place like the United States of America is the dream for many ambitious people, but certainly is not everybody's cup of tea.

I hope I was able to cover a few essential points about pursuing a DDS in the States. Especially for many foreign dentists, who just sit at their home thinking, What to do next?